I also happen to really prefer the tan interior.  In fict my dog must be the same color
as Bill's since I never even notice the hair any longer.  When I was buying this most
recent westy I was deliberating between many vans from 86-91 since there is so little
difference between these years for the most part other than some cosmetics.

I chose my 86 over a few 89s and a 90 because of many of the mechanical issues potential
in the others, but one of the influences was that I liked the tan color much more than
the gray.  I had an 89 with the gray in the past and, like Bill, I ofund that I am not
often hiking with a gray dog in a gray land and it would show!

Greg

86 Westy
73 Thing
99 Subaru Forester

<Why did pre-'87 VW vanagons and earlier buses
have such hideous colors?>

Hey, I resemble that remark!

My lovely gold (actually beige metallic) '85 vanagon has a tan/brown interior
that hides the hair of my tan/brown dogs beautifully.  It also hides a lot of
the dust here in Phoenix.  Granted, the dark brown wasn't particularly nice,
but the light tan stuff is very attractive.  Personally, I thought the blue
interior was nasty - too plastic looking.  Besides, a creative person
upholsters his own interior.

Bill Marshall
85 GL Tiico